Olivia Murphy and Kirsten Morrison Honored By Little East Conference

Feb 26, 2013

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass.—The Little East Conference has announced the 2013 All-Conference selections and the Beacons talented duo of Olivia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) and Kirsten Morrison (North Reading, Mass.) each found a spot amongst the award winners, the league office announced Tuesday morning.

Murphy was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, as well as being named to the All-Defensive and All-Rookie Teams. The freshman forward from Canton, Mass. joins Morrison as one of four Beacons to ever be named Rookie of the Year in program history and is only the second player in UMB women's basketball history to be named to the All-Defensive Team.

Morrison, the reigning Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, was named to the LEC Second Team for the second time in basketball, and fourth time overall (twice in volleyball).

The only player to close out the 2012-13 season with a double-double in the Little East Conference, Murphy averaged 14.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She led the conference in total rebounds 266, total offensive rebounds (109), offensive rebounds per game (4.2) and rebounds per game (10.2), in her first season out of Canton High School.

On the offensive end, Murphy led the Beacons and finished third amongst conference players with her 14.5 points per game. She knocked down 41.9 percent of her shots and 65 percent of her free throws, to put her in the top-11 in the conference in each category.

Defensively she was just as good if not better, finishing second in the conference in blocks per game with 1.8 and and fifth in steals with 1.7 steals per game.

The UMass Boston Tip-off Tournament and Key Largo Classic Most Valuable Player ended the year with 10 double-doubles, six games of 20 points or more and four games of 15 or more rebounds.

Murphy enjoyed a career game December 30 against Maine Maritime in the Key Largo Classic Opening Round, finishing with 20 points and 15 rebounds in an overtime victory.

She was honored as the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week a program-record seven times and was recognized as the New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the Week on two occasions.

Morrison had another stellar season for the Beacons, pairing up with Murphy to form the top one-two punch in the Little East Conference.

She followed up her award-winning rookie campaign by finishing fourth in the LEC in scoring (13.9 points per game) and rebounding (8.8 rebounds per game).

The North Reading native also ended the year amongst the top five in the conference in offensive rebounding (4.1 per game) and field-goal percentage (47.3 percent).

In 26 contests, Morrison finished in double-digits in scoring 23 times and in rebounding on eight occasions. She tallied eight double-doubles including an impressive 14-point, 24-rebound game against Maine Maritime in the Key Largo Classic Opening Round.

Morrison was at her best though in the LEC Quarterfinals against UMass Dartmouth, knocking down 8-of-16 shots from the field, en route to 20 points and eight rebounds.

She was named Little East Conference Player of the Week and honored as a member of the D3Hoops.Com Team of the Week on December 19, after finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a big win over Westfield State University.

The pair of starting forwards helped UMass Boston finish with their second-best record in program history at 14-12.